Danny Cowley accepts he may have to wait until the end of the summer transfer window to secure the new striker he is craving.

Bringing in a new forward is the Lincoln City boss’s top priority before the window slams shut on August 31.

Cowley is also interested in bringing in a new left-back but following the performances of new signing Neal Eardley in the position and with Sam Habergham just weeks away from fitness, that search is now less urgent.

The Imps boss is patiently waiting for the right player to become available but expects more clubs in the Championship and League One to soon start making out-of-favour players available.

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“We’d like to add one, maybe two more if we could,” said Cowley in today’s press conference at Sincil Bank.

“Ideally we’d like a squad of 22. Whether that’s financially possible, we’ll have to wait and see.

“We’d definitely like another forward just to help the group but it has to be the right one.

“We’re hoping that we might get some value for money at the end of the transfer window and we’ve kept a little bit of money back.

“But you can’t predict it [when the right player is going to become available]. If someone who is really good value becomes available, I might jump. But I know I’ve only got a certain amount left in the kitty to spend.

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“So it’s got to be someone who gives us that something extra which could be the difference.

“It’s not so much that prices come down [towards the end of the window], it’s that there is more availability. Players that weren’t available suddenly become available.

“A lot happens in these opening weeks of the season. Players who are perhaps outside of the squads in the Championship and League One, who want to play every week, can become available.

“If you keep your ear to the ground and keep working hard, sometimes one falls on your lap.

“If we can make one more big signing, I think we’ll be in a really good position.”

Neal Eardley in action at Rotherham on Tuesday

Of the left-back situation, Cowley added: “Neal Eardley has done such a fantastic job. I was saying to Nicky [Cowley] all summer that I wanted someone like Phil Neville. We wanted that versatile player who can play right-back, left-back and maybe in midfield too.

“Neal is a really organised, intelligent footballer. You wouldn’t know he was right-footed with the way he has been playing at left-back.

“That’s been a real plus and it might allow me to put all the money into a forward and go with a squad of 21.”